I loved this book . I would recommend that our political leaders read the book. The event in this book is something that I hope never happens .

Blackout is a timely, thought provoking novel about what could happen if terrorists knock out the world's power grid, and how easily that could happen. Just a few days without power, and the long term consequences could be devastating, with many side effects that you would (probably) never consider. This is one book that would make an excellent movie, and the movie would probably be better than the book - an action packed, contemporary thriller. Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It did open my eyes, it just didn't grab me the way I expected it to. 3.75 stars. Still a very interesting read!

Blackout, written by Marc Elsberg, is a realistic and plausible look at the world we live, and the dangers lurking that we seldom consider as we go about our daily lives. We've seen the devastating results after a terrorist attack and we've also seen the damage that can be caused by hackers. What happens when a group of terrorists hack into the electrical grids and power plants in Europe? A total blackout is only the beginning of this unbelievable mess. Everyone is freaking out about the blackout, all while another danger looms unbeknownst to the public...the nuclear reactors are overheating!

Piero Monzano is a former hacker that knows pretty much everything there is to know about hacking, so when the blackout happens, he begins investigating how it happened and who is responsible for it. He teams up with the investigators, only to have the tables turned on him because he quickly becomes their prime suspect. Piero knows he can figure this out...he just needs time...so he flees before he is arrested. With the help of Lauren Shannon, a former journalism student and now a camerawoman working for CNN, the two race to find the answers before it's too late.

I have to admit that I was completely fascinated by the premise of this story. Cyber attacks are on the rise, and in my opinion, this could actually happen. Maybe not to the extent it did in this book, but any attack on our electrical grids and power plants would be devastating and chaotic, regardless if it happens to one city or the entire country. I loved the way the author showed the events in different cities and the reactions of the people. It's obvious the author did his research when writing this, and explains everything through the various scenarios. The world we live in is a scary one, to say the least, and the author brilliantly told a story that could be all too real in the near future. I would definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. My views are my own and are in no way influenced by anyone else.

Blackout is a fascinating, yet frightening story about hackers getting into the power grids and causing electricity to go out all over Europe and the United States. Life as we know it comes to a standstill as the governments, power companies and IT professionals try to restore power.

The story follows Piero Manzano, a reformed hacker who discovers how it may have started and tips off the authorities, which in turn makes him a possible suspect. As Piero tries to help find the bug, he also finds himself on the run with the help of an American journalist, who believes in his innocence.

This is a fast, easy read with a great subject, but not much in the way of character development. The story skips around from country to country, letting the reader know what was happening in each location. There is also quite a bit of technical talk about the power grids and internet security.

Going for days with no power had many life-threatening repercussions that were pointed out along the way, but the meat of the story was Piero and his attempts to solve the problem and expose the hackers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I just couldn't get past 200 pages in this book. I guess it's being described as a techno thriller but I felt the pace was slow, lots of meetings trying to figure things out, not enough actual action. It just didn't do it for me. I will not review it on social medial since I did not finish it and it may just have a knock out ending which I didn't get to. Thanks for the opportunity!

I found the subject the most compelling thing about this book. An insight into what would occur to our taken-for-granted everyday life should our power system be disrupted made it worth reading. Insights into just how vulnerable our interconnected power grids really are was also quite educational. As far as compelling writing style, I'd have to give a C, truthfully, I would not have finished the book were the subject not so interesting.

This story seems all too plausible and that makes it all the more frightening. It is the best kind of thriller with multiple storylines that you know will ultimately converge. Somewhat predictable but plenty of unexpected twists and turns along the way. I recommend this to anyone who likes international thrillers with a strong nod to technology manipulation.

I would like to thank Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC of "Blackout" by Marc Elsberg for my honest review. The genres of this novel are Mystery, Thriller, General Fiction(Adult).
Although this novel is written as fiction, the author gives us a taste of reality where it is very possible that hackers could take over all computer systems internationally and cause havoc, disaster, destruction and collapse of society as we know it.
I found the first half of the novel a little slow moving with involved information of computer technology, grids, nuclear energy and the governmental controls.In the first part of the story, there are "Blackouts" that occur throughout Europe, and the scenes are pretty much the same. The second half of the novel was intense where we discover the "who" and motivations involved. There are chases, murder and adventure in this part of the novel.
As the "Blackouts" spread to the United States, there is lots of tension, riots, and fighting.
The characters are complex and complicated.
This is an intriguing fictional novel that almost crosses the line into what can be a devastating reality.

It all starts one night..... the power goes out and all of Europe goes dark. The book quickly escalates from there. Although I didn't understand some of the technical aspects, it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book one bit. This book will take you on a roller coaster ride of suspense and terror, while making you horrified at the thought that something like this could actually happen. Definitely a must-read!

Thought provoking. Goes into great detail on the impact of an extended power outage, Characterization is a little thin.

For me, one word sums up this book - boring. A slow read with minimal suspense and a flat ending. If you want to read about electrical grids, this is the book for you.

“Blackout” by Marc Elsberg grabbed me from the start with a car crash caused by a traffic light outage; traffic signals should work and to be obeyed. What happens when electricity goes out -- everywhere? In this non-stop thriller with action ripped from the headlines, life comes to a screeching halt as a massive power failure hits all over Europe and the players desperately try to find the cause and the culprit as the outage spreads.

The main character in the book is the power grid itself where generators and power traders supply energy to people and industry through computer-controlled grids and smart electric meters. This tightly interconnected grid provides electricity to people and industry much as the circulatory system takes life-blood throughout the body. When the grid goes down, everything else falls like dominoes, transportation, shopping, food supply, health care, industry, even civilization itself.

The plot follows several groups of “secondary” characters (after the main character, the power grid), and as the action jumps back and forth all over Europe, each section is carefully defined with the geographic local to help readers keep track of the action. The characters represent a cross section of society devastated by the loss of power, the elderly, the reporter, the power representatives, the IT specialists, the law enforcement personnel, and the underground society.

No one escapes the devastation, and no one remains unscathed. The book has death and destruction, but it is not graphic, just incredibly gut wrenching and frighteningly realistic. This is the digital age’s worst nightmare, and as one reads, the possibility that this could actually happen becomes all too real.

NetGalley gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my review, and this book was so real that it was terrifying. The book was originally published in Germany, and the translation into English was first-rate. In the years since its publication, the scenario has become even more real and even more frightening.

This is not the sort of book I usually read, but this one was fantastic and frightening at the same time. I'm glad I read it -- I think. The next time any of us laugh at reports of fringe “preppers” practicing for the end of the world, we should, perhaps, think again.

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book. There was a slight lack of action in the beginning that had me worried. This wasn't a pull you in from the first page with non-stop action type of story. However, once it got rolling it absolutely pulled me in. The translation from German was really good.

What really impressed me most about this book was the research that went in to what would happen if we had no electricity. Besides the obvious, there were things in here that I never thought of that were really quite terrifying.

Much of this book reads like a documentary. The events and actions are way too real to be fiction. The story is terrifying, and the characters are very real. The story is a reflection on how our lives are dependent on the countless interactions of "smart" devices throughout the world. This is a thriller of a different sort, where the possibilities it create bring your heart into your throat. The writing is crisp and clear, and the unfolding of events never stops. This is a great book to have on your shelf and to use for discussions.

I enjoyed this book but it was a little tricky to keep all the characters straight. I felt the ending was abrupt. I still wanted to know more about Lauren Shannon and did she go on to have a career with CNN or……..Fast read and it did keep you reading into the night.

From Germany origins we get to read this thriller. Oh the dark, you just never know what happens in a novel when the power grids go down. A rebel group, anarchist, have taken over. While it reminds me some of another author's work, it was still well written and details were vivid and well thought through. It's exceedingly plausible, which adds to the suspense of it being such a thriller. I have been through some major power outages, so I have a grasp of how realistic this novel is in many ways.

My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.

Elsberg's vision of how society and governments break down in only a few days of crisis seemed realistic and terrifying. I enjoyed seeing the story told from so many perspectives across Europe instead of just from one person or one country.

A former best seller in Germany, this novel has finally come to the United States. A techno thriller, this format is normally one that does not pique my interest.. However, if you are like me, disregard those thoughts! This fast paced novel moves and jumps from one chapter and one country to the next like exploding fireworks. As a blackout occurs all over Europe,terror fills the hearts and minds of ordinary citizens and bureaucrats dealing with energy control. Could this be a simple glitch or the work of terrorism? Ironically, as computers shut down all over Europe this past week due to malware, a fictitious scenario becomes all too real. A former hacker has an idea of how this may have occurred but in trying to sort out the situation he becomes the object of the search. As nuclear reactors' begin to melt, food shortages abound, and medical supplies dwindle, the plot's exploration of technology brings us down a rabbit hole of consequences that feel all too real. Leaping with intrigue from page one, this is a fascinating book that is scary in its ability to perhaps forecast the future.

Wow, what a sensational read this was. All the power has gone out in Europe. The author provides you a first hand look at what that actually means. The shortage of things that you wouldn't even think about happens. Food supplies, toilet backups due to sewers drying out, meat supplies short for years because of all the deaths of the livestock, and nuclear plants overheating causing widespread damage that will be a factor for decades. Truly, eye opening.

Then you have the action, and I do mean action - a lot of it, of the governments and one ex-hacker who thinks like the terrorists and starts to figure things out. Of course, the governments think he is part of the scheme and are after him. And, the terrorists are not happy that he is figuring things out. This poor man is running, he's not safe anywhere. He's shot, put in prison, chased and never given a moments rest.

This book was so full of action and I was certainly entertained and very glad that I believed the hype and requested this book. It was definitely worth my 8 or 9 hours it took to read it. Which is another good selling point. I think if a book keeps you entertained for that long, definitely a good buy!

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Blackout has already sold a million copies, so there won't be much interest in what this reviewer in the California desert has to say, but hey, it's my chance to disagree with a lot of people. The topic of a huge blackout, first throughout Europe, then into the United States, carries a host of interesting possibilities for an author. Unfortunately, this novel is structured in such a way as to make the situation more boring than anything.. Too much hopping between different places and different people. In the beginning we keep switching to different cities, where the story is essentially repeated each time. The character development is so thin that you have no one to root for. Sure, you want the lights turned back on, but the process just goes on and on. Food and heat miraculously appear when it suits the story, but isn't the whole premise that there is no heat and food? Reading Blackout just left me hungry for a good thriller.